Book-holder.



PATENTED NOV. 26

O. L. WORK.

BOOK HOLDER.

APPLIOATION I'ILED SEPT. 24. 1906.

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PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

C. L. WORK. BOOK HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.24,1006.

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BOOK-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed September 24 1906. Serial No. 335,850.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', CHARLES L. WVonK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Granville, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BooleHoldei's, of which the following is a specification My invention relates more particularly to improvements in swinging and adjustable book holders for attachment to desks, tables or other supports.

The object of my invention is to provide convenient, easy, inexpensive and durable means for securing the holder closed or open, and it is specially adapted for use as a holder for large books, such as dictionaries and other works of reference, although it is useful for holding books of various sizes.

My invention consists in the releasing and automatic latch mechanism, in the springs for giving steadiness to the working motion of the holder, which springs assist in closing the book and holding it closed, and also insure the holding of the book in open position.

My invention also consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as herein set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrate the construction and operation of my invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the de vice applied to an ordinary rolltop desk, the desk being shown partly in section and partly broken away Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the book holder shown disconnected from its supporting arm. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2 looking to the right. Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 showing the book holder open. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view, partly broken away, of the latch mechanism taken on the line x-o: of Fig. 3, the heavy lines showing the parts engaged, and the dotted lines the position of the catch when released from the keeper. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modification in the form of one part of the latch.

My improved book holder consists of the back 1 and. the lids 2 and 3 hinged thereto and adapted to approach and to recede from each other. These lids 2 and 3 are provided with stops 4 adapted to engage the outer edges of the back 1 to limit the outward movement or recession of the lids 2 and 3, and said lids 2 and 3 are also provided with the interiorly extending lugs 4 adapted to engage the upper outer parts of the back 1 to limit the inward movement or approach of said lids 2 and 3. A socket 5 is provided upon the under side of the back 1 and is adapted to receive the stem 6 upon the swinging arm 7 which may be attached by a suitable bracket 8 to desk 9 or other object.

My automatic latch is constructed as follows: A keeper 10 is rigidly attached to the end of the lid 2 and extends at right angles thereto, its free end being enlarged, and provided with a recess 11 therein and beveled from its outer edge to said recess. A catch 12 is secured by pivot 13 to the end of lid 3 and is provided with a projection 14 adapted to engage a spring 15 held upon the lid. 3 by stud 16. A lug 17 is providedon the inner end of the catch 1.2 and adapted to take into the recess 11 of the keeper 10 to normally hold said catch and keeper in engagement. The catch 12 is also provided with a handle 18 which extends upwardly to near the top of the lid 3 and is normally held a short distance therefrom by the spring 15 at a point convenient to be grasped by the hand with the lid 3 and pressed against the latter when opening the book.

Springs 19 and 20 are secured to the lids 2 and 3 respectively and to the central part of the lower portion of the back 1 in such a po sition that when the lids are open or in receded position, said springs 19 and 20 will cause said lids 2 and 3 respectively to remain in such open or receded positions, while when said lids 2 and 3 are closed or in approached position, said springs 19 and 20 will cause said lids 2 and 3 respectively to remain in such closed or approached position, thus alternatively causing said lids to maintain their receded or approached positions as the case may be.

My improved book holder being so constructed that the lids are limited in their recession by the lugs 4 and in their approach by the lugs 4, the book to be held therein may be inserted with equal facility whether my holder be opened or closed, the positive maintenance of the parts in their respective positions in either case allowing the book to be adjusted in proper position within the holder so as to eliminate the possibility of closing the holder upon the book improperly as is the case with holders now in use, such improper manipulation resulting in excessive strain on the parts of the holder as well as in damage to the binding of the book thus placed therein. The keeper 10 which is rigidly secured to the lid 2 being provided with the surface divergently inclined from the edges of the recess 11 therein will insure the engagement of the lug 17 on the catch 12 within said recess 11. The holder is thus positively secured in closed position relieving the strain on the pivotal connection between the lids 2 and 3 and the back 1. Although thus positively closed the holder may be conveniently opened by pressing upon the handle 18 and overcoming the pressure of the spring 15.

I claim:

1. In a book holder, a back, lids hinged to said back and adapted to swing toward and from each other, springs secured to said back and to said lids to cause said lids to maintain their open position when open and to maintain their closed position when closed, means for automatically limiting the movement of said lids toward and from each other, a keeper on one of said lids having a recess and a surface inclined divergently from the edges thereof, a catch on the other of said lids, a lug on said catch adapted to be guided into said recess over said surface to hold said lids from recession, and a handle rigidly secured to said catch whereby said lug may be disengaged from within said recess.

2. In a book holder, a back, lids hinged to said back and adapted to swing toward and from each other, springs secured to said back and to said lids to cause said lids to maintain.

their open position when open and to maintain their closed position when closed, means for automatically limiting the movement of said lids toward and from each other, a keeper on one end of one of said lids and pro jecting inwardly at right an les thereto, a catch on one end of the other of said lids adapted to automatically engage said keeper to hold said. lids from recession, and a handle rigidly secured to said catch and arranged to be grasped simultaneously with the lid whereby said catch may be disengaged from said keeper when opening a book in said holder, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES L. WVORK. Vitnesses:

E. F. HOBART, E. E. WRIGHT. 

